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Taking a breather was something the two of them had never really needed to do. They had a limitless amount of energy, the only thing that encouraged them to flee from battles was their combined endurance to keep a fight goin. Now with their combined strength, however, destroying them was impossible. But it would seem that did not stop one from enjoying the simplicity of a well deserved rest to stop and regroup. Something that wasn't a fight, or switching between the influence of one another to traverse a world neither of them could explore alone.
And Edda... was not used to this stillness. The crackling cold energy that pulsed through her was restless, aching for any sort of release. It wasn't happy with her stillness, aching for a chance to escape through her speed or through her blades, yet she kept it in check. She couldn't push it, neither of the two of them knew what they wished to do yet and needed time to think things over.
Ah. Yes. Right. The two of them.
Edda need only glimpse to her left and the Dark star that she was bonded to would come into view. His scarf was much like her billowing hair, never stopping even in idleness as he seemed to take to their silent moment much better than she did. Aven, that was the name he had told her when the two had met again. When he begged her to listen... how differently would things have gone had she not?
His stillness was almost unnatural to her. Even with the swirling winds he was watching in his hand, there was no hurry to his movements. He was faster than her in attacks during combat, but so much slower than her outside of it, almost still as a statue at times like this. She couldn't wrap her head around it. How could someone thrive in so much stillness like this?
"If you are ready to leave, I'm happy to get going." His attention didn't even move from the winds to her face, and yet it still made her jump as a pulse of startled energy escaped her. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised, their thoughts and feelings weren't private anymore, not like this. "Your restlessness is almost contagious you know."
"My apologies. I am not used to staying still-"
"I noticed." Huh? Was he- she saw that. A faint glimpse of some familiar warmth in his core, a brighter light that he was trying so hard to muffle. A warm feeling in the chest that was aching to be expressed.
This damned Dark star was teasing her.
"I am perfectly capable of it even so, I will have you know."
"I never doubted such, my lady." And yet that teasing manner didn't vanish. This little- A snicker from him broke her out of his thoughts, and he turned his head away to try and keep his composure.
"What?"
"Nothing, nothing, you- you are surprisingly easy to frustrate. I was not even trying to get under your shell!" Ugh. He was lucky that she was not in the mood for a petty argument over something like this... she's been arguing a lot more lately. She could never remember fighting this much with her sisters.
"I am so sure, as you have certainly not been trying to agitate me lately." The sarcasm was palpable in her voice, but she supposed his response was enough for her to settle, at least slightly. She still could feel the anxious sparks darting across her cold shell, the smooth surface flickering in the familiar light of blue that she surrounded herself in, but she would not leave. She could not leave without him, and he was not ready just yet. He waited for her, she could wait for him. Only fair after all.
The two were able to fall back into a comfortable silence, Aven's attention falling back to the powers swirling in his hand. A flame this time, gentler than the ones he hurled in fights, but prevalent. Warm... hm. She couldn't help but wonder, what does such a warmth feel like? She never encountered such a thing in her fights, only stones and claws that threatened to tear her asunder or bash her down into submission. Never had she experienced the attacks that bled of warmth or gusts of chaos before she met him. She couldn't help but idly wonder, did he know of lighting and frigid cold before the two of them met?
"I have, yes." Ah. Right. She was still not used to sharing a mind, jumping just slightly at his answer.
"Have you?"
"Your sisters are strong, they used anything on myself and my brothers to ward us off for even a precious few moments... lighting was the most common." His words were somber, reserved, far more quiet than he usually was. She supposed it made sense... neither of them knew what to think of their kin anymore. Not after what has happened to them. Neither of them had family nor friend to return to like this.
"I see... I cannot imagine those were pleasant feelings."
"Hah! No, that would be putting it kindly, they were anything but pleasant. Lighting can be quite the burn, much harsher than fire. And the frigid ice was not much better." He shook his head as he spoke, his scarf following his movements just as easily. Still as a statue one moment, and yet he looked so alive and careful the next. She wondered... how would he look truly at ease?
Her gaze drifted down to the flame in his hand. His claws always swirled with his innate abilities when the two rested... she couldn't help but wonder what such warmth felt like. How it felt... in a fight she could take a guess now, her recent experience was a valuable teacher but... surely he doesn't keep it so hot while-
No. No, that is not where her mind should go. She needed to keep it together, keep her thoughts in line, she had no right to- he flinched. He flinched as a hand went to his head, the light of his core bending around his claws... shoot. That rebuttal had been loud, hadn't it?
"My deepest apologies- I had not meant for you to hear-"
"I know, I know my lady-" Again with that name, he needn't call her that, she told him so, "-It was just. Loud, and sudden."
"I am aware, I can still apologize." She had moved a hand to his shoulder for a moment, quickly thinking better of herself before she actually made contact and pulled her hand away. Best not to chance it, not with how much energy was bubbling under the surface. She needn't risk hurting him.
He took a moment to return to himself, settling his hands behind him as he did so, that lovely flame disappearing under his hand... and yet Edda couldn't help herself but stare. Why was she staring?
A moment of silence passed. Then two. Then three.
"So, do you want to tell me what that sudden mind shout was about?" He had turned to look at her, tilting his head just slightly in a way that made his core glow wonderfully in the purple light that surrounded them. She supposed she should've expected it, he had proven to be rather curious about her once the two had properly connected. She couldn't escape it, or bluff her way around it, he knew her far too well then she would like anyone to ever be capable of.
Deep breaths Edda. Just. Breathe.
"... a passing thought. A silly one, really." He didn't move, still not satisfied with that answer. Or rather, her attempt at wiggling out of giving one properly. Fair enough, she supposed. "I was just... curious, how your flames felt."
Oh. That was a small jolt of warmth. Surprise, slight shock, perhaps a bit of awe, and something else she couldn't identify. A feeling that just felt comfortable settling in her chest.
"Ah." Seemed he was speechless for once. Was her curiosity really so bold that it could leave him speechless for a change? She supposed she should be proud of that.
He lifted up his hand again, holding it up for her to see... and that gentle red light flickered back to life in his palm, licking the sides of his claws with warmth and red. A fascinating sight... so small, so concentrated and careful, she could almost be convinced it was never utilized as a tool of battle. Almost.
He held it out to her tentatively, a silent invitation. Nerves were bubbling under her shell at the offer, whether it was hers or his she could not tell. Maybe the both of them were nervous, bleeding into one another's feelings so well they couldn't tell them apart. Impossible to tell. Impossible to know. But she couldn't stand idle forever, she would just drive herself insane.
She took a breath, and slowly reached out towards the flame, towards his hand. Slow, careful, being mindful not to burn herself. It was so warm, so gentle, so very careful- ah!
A jolt of blue escaped from her hand, lightning jumping from her fingers to his. The two pulled their hands away from each other for a moment, Edda shaking her hand out with quick and quiet apologies. She supposed she had been right to avoid touching him earlier if that was the result she was going to get.
"I'm sorry, we should stop-"
"No." No. Don't stop, she was fine, she was- "I just need a moment- just give me one moment."
Deep breath in... deep breath out. Focus less on her nervous energy, find that cold inner center. A cold that was easier to control, to keep in place and stable as she wished... a cold frost that could tingle just fine on her fingers. Breathe...
She tried again, forcing the nervousness down. Nothing jumped from one to the other this time, but she felt the hiss that came from her hand. A hiss of cold meeting heat, of the two elements blending together. A new feeling, a new sensation, one she had never experienced before. One that gave her an idea. A very impulsive idea, but she has been nothing if not impulsive lately.
She reached further into the flame, the fire licking past her fingers as she did so. She felt a jolt of surprise cut through the back of her mind, of worry and fear, but she tried her best to ignore it. To focus on the moment ahead of her, of the pleasant warmth that brought nothing but comfort and ease against her shell.
She wrapped her fingers around his, trapping the flame between their palms. It felt... nice. The cold of her hand matched the heat of his fire almost perfectly, creating a feeling of comfortable warmth she never thought possible. It was nice, cooling, soft. For a moment, she could almost get lost in the present. Green sparked between their joined hands, and her eyes widened just slightly at the beautiful sight. She was still not used to green... to that new color and sensation.
That wasn't the only sensation new to her though. Something else was warm inside of her, her chest and her... face? No, that wasn't her. She finally looked up, and Aven was turning his face away despite how bright his core was glowing. The warmth was from him, and he was trying to hide it... he was trying to hide it? Oooooh. Now this would be fun~
"Aven?" Her voice was softer than she meant it to be, and it made the dark star jump just slightly. The warmth in her face grew, and she had to fight to keep herself from smiling too big. Oh joy, this was going to be such fun payback.
"Aven. Come on, look at me. Is something wrong?" She pulled their hands closer to her, urging him forward into her space. The warmth in her chest grew, a comfortable fire settled right next to her own.
"No, no, I'm fine my lady-"
"Edda. I've told you to call me that several times now." A firm reminder, one that made him jump just slightly. It was... rather adorable to watch, she had to admit. Like a spooked unicorn protostar. "Go on. Say it."
She almost swore the fire in her hand grew hotter, and yet still it did not injure her. Even now, thoroughly distracted, he was oh so careful not to hurt her.
"... Edda. I am fine." His own voice had gone quiet, and... she had not been prepared for how nice her name would sound in his voice. So gentle and soothing, reassuring and just perfect. Two halves of a whole, slotting together.
"Are you now?" Again, she pulled him closer. "Then look at me."
And that seemed to do it. His face grew so much warmer, the light of his core burning so much brighter. He was trying so hard to stay composed, it was admirable. And adorable.
Slowly, he turned to face her. She was certain she was smiling now, and yet her expression couldn't help but soften at his face. A warm core, soft orange lights... so unlike anything she had ever gotten the chance to know. How could she not be enchanted by the sight for even a moment?
His breath caught, she supposed those sentiments bled over into her mind. Not that she was all that upset, his own fluster- that was the word- had been on display for her to hear for so long in this discussion after all.
"Edda, I-" He had gone to pull away, his fluster worsening, but she slightly tightened her hold on his claws.
"Aven." Her voice and his name made him almost shudder... my. "My flame. How quickly you unravel."
And that seemed to do it. In an instant he was gone, retreating into the space they share when it was time to move. Edda couldn't help herself, bursting into laughter at the sudden fleeing. Perhaps she had gone a bit too far, but goodness that was such a rush!
"That was low. Especially for you."
"It was only fair, you've teased me plenty of times." Her answer only got silence in response, so she opted to stand back up in her spot. Her energy was less... ravenous than before, less aching for a release. It was back to a manageable level, yet that didn't stop her from taking off into a jolt of lighting for as fast as she could. They could figure out their next step once they were tired again.
Already she was missing that warmth in her hand.